Jets' WR Braylon Edwards Arrested on DWI Charges
The New York Jets have confirmed that their wide-receiver, Braylon Edwards, was arrested last night on the west-side Manhattan for allegedly driving while intoxicated.
According to preliminary reports, the NYPD stopped Edwards, in his Range Rover, on 34th Street and 12th Avenue, for having illegally tinted windows. After the vehicle stop, the police detected alcohol on Edwards' breath. After taking a breathalyzer exam, Edwards blew a .16 blood alcohol level, double the legal limit of .08.
Edwards will be charged with misdemeanor DWI in a Manhattan courtroom this morning. In NYC, there is no plea bargaining on DWI charges. If he pleads guilty, Edwards (on a first offense) will face 3 years probation, loss of his driver's license for 6 months, required driver education and fines. If he has a second offense, he will be looking at jail time.
As a former NYC prosecutor, I have handled hundreds of DWI cases. When a defendant, like Edwards, blows over .15, he is dangerously drunk. When you cross a reading of .2 on a breathalyzer you are close to blackout drunk. While there is no excuse for any DWI, Edwards' actions (if true) are more than disgraceful as he could have used part of his seven figure salary to pay for a cab.
We will following whether this arrest will violate Edwards' existing probation, in Ohio, for an October 2009 bar fight involving Edwards and a friend of Lebron James. If this arrest violates his probation, a court in Ohio may issue a warrant for his arrest.
Once again, stay tuned.
My name is Christopher Fusco. I am the managing partner of Callahan & Fusco, LLC with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.